filling small screw holes you want to redrill

parker_knoll

Hi all

I've got two sets of screw holes I need to fill and drill over - set one for the tailpiece, set two for the tuners. None of the holes is larger than 1.5mm. 

When we're looking at filling holes and drilling new ones that possibly overlap the old holes, what method works best?

- fill the holes with wood glue and toothpick/matchstick/other plug (or similar) and allow to set?

- fill the holes with wood filler?

- fill the holes with some other filler? (the guy at the tool shop suggested Milliput)

- any other technique?

Thanks

Toby

SteveRobinson

Cocktail stick here. Drill out if necessary to the correct diameter. Glue in using Titebond and once dry trim flush using a sharp chisel. 

ICBM

Do not use wood filler or putty! Use a hardwood dowel, cocktail stick, piece of shaved down lollipop stick, something like that... the key is to make it a *tight* fit in the hole - a really tight, compression fit. Glue it in with Titebond, cut off flush and drill the new hole when set. Use a smaller pilot hole than normal if most of the new hole overlaps the old one.

If you use any material that’s less hard than the surrounding wood, the new hole will just wander into it.

TheMadMick

If covered by the attachment, simply drill out for a plastic plug and screw into that. I'd think some of those tiny ones you get in Flea bay might do the trick?

ICBM

TheMadMick said:

If covered by the attachment, simply drill out for a plastic plug and screw into that. I'd think some of those tiny ones you get in Flea bay might do the trick?

I would strongly advise not doing that.

parker_knoll

thanks all. toothpick/other plug it is. 

prowla

SteveRobinson said:

Cocktail stick here. Drill out if necessary to the correct diameter. Glue in using Titebond and once dry trim flush using a sharp chisel. 

Yep - cocktail sticks & titebond.

I tend to trim the cocktail stick to fit the hole, rather than enlarge the hole.

Sarge

Chopsticks are very useful, though I'd avoid bamboo as they just crumbled away when I tried them. 

randella

Sarge said:

Chopsticks are very useful, though I'd avoid bamboo as they just crumbled away when I tried them. 

Bamboo skewers work in a pinch, but they do crumble without a very sharp chisel. If you need to redrill on the edge of the old hole the bit can wander too.

Fine for mending the shed door, probably avoid for a guitar